The Lady in Waiting Held Her Lace Fan and Kept Every Palace Secret
A white cloth cap tied neatly on her head frames the face of a tricolor Bernese Mountain Dog, who has the breed's gentle brown eyes, white blaze, and rusty cheek markings. She wears a green velvet gown with puffed sleeves, a cream chemise, and a long strand of pearls draped across her chest. In one hand she holds a delicate lace fan. Behind her, a Renaissance landscape shows an old castle on a hill, a winding river, and mountains in the haze. She looks calm and wise, like a lady who knows all the palace secrets.
The lace fan is painted with such care that you can see the tiny pattern of the lace. Renaissance artists treated details like this as a way to show their skill, since each fine thread had to be rendered by hand.
Bernese Mountain Dogs come from Switzerland, where they were farm dogs that pulled carts and herded cattle. They are calm, affectionate, and good with families, though they are large and shed a lot. They do best in cooler weather and can overheat in summer, so give them shade and cool water. Their thick coat needs brushing a few times a week. Because large breeds can have joint concerns and shorter lifespans, regular vet visits and careful feeding are very important.
She will keep every secret, though a good treat might be enough to loosen her lips.
